Gender case still hot topic in Michigan

July 22, 2006|BOB OPPENHEIM Tribune Staff Writer

Gender equity is still a hot issue with the Michigan High School Athletic Association. A lawsuit filed in 1998 in Grand Rapids continues to be a popular topic for MHSAA executive director Jack Roberts and his staff. Earlier this week, in a discussion with reporters in Stevensville, Roberts addressed at length the case alleging that the current system of playing girls basketball in the fall and volleyball in the winter is unfair to female athletes being recruited by colleges. If the MHSAA loses the case, the sports would switch seasons. Also in the lower peninsula, girls tennis and boys golf would move from the fall to the spring and girls golf and boys tennis from the spring to the fall. "The longer this one goes the more my optimism grows," Roberts said. "It usually takes longer to reverse (in favor of the defendant) than to affirm (in favor of the plaintiff)." In May 2005, the MHSAA earned a small victory when the United States Supreme Court granted the association's request for an appeal for the sports season litigation. In granting the appeal, the Supreme Court vacated previous orders in the case by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and put the case back in the hands of the Sixth Circuit for reconsideration. "We could hear from the Sixth Circuit any time," said Roberts. "But, I have no idea when. I have no inside information. "My sense, regardless of what happens, is that whoever loses would appeal. Roberts sees no reason to change the current landscape of high school athletics in Michigan, considering participation numbers. During the 2005-06 school year, seven of the 14 girls sports set records for participation. Volleyball is the most popular girls sport. Seven of the 14 boys sports also set records for participation, with football being the most popular. "Despite the financial cutbacks, schools are doing a great job of maximizing participation," Roberts said. "Different sports being able to share facilities also helps. "We're eighth in the nation in high school-age population. We're fourth in the nation in girls' sports participation and sixth in the nation in boys' sports participation." According to Roberts, fun, friends and fitness are the reasons kids participate in high school athletics. Roberts added that kids don't like the pressure that surrounds athletics and doing the same sport year round. To help alleviate that pressure, the Representative Council of the Michigan High School Athletic Association passed several measures in May. Beginning in 2007, there will be a seven-day dead period in the summer. Schools would have the choice to designate their own seven-day period, although the Association is recommending that the period include July 4. During that period, schools will not be able to conduct open gyms or conditioning programs and coaches will not be able to have any kind of instructional contact with student-athletes. The Council also has established a pre-season down period, beginning in the 2007-08 school year. This is a period immediately preceding the first day of allowable practice for a sport. During that period, schools can't have open gyms for a particular sport and no competition may take place between groups that resemble school teams at any location with any of the school's personnel present. Coaches can only work with three players on sport-specific skills. The down period would begin August 1 for fall sports, March 1 for spring sports and 14 days prior to the first allowable practice for winter sports. Also, sports with postseason tournaments can't solely be taught in a class beginning in 2007-08. For example, there will be no physical education football classes. Another issue brought up was the current trend of serious injuries suffered by softball players, particularly pitchers. That situation came up this past spring when St. Joseph pitcher Jordan Goslee was hit in the face by a line drive. After that incident, Niles softball coach Jim Arnold had his pitcher and first and third baseman wearing protective helmets. "The National Rules Committee is talking about pitchers and infielders wearing protective helmets," Roberts said. "Currently, protective helmets can be worn, but it's not necessary." Future sites for state finals also were addressed at the meeting. Johnson was asked about the future for the baseball and softball state finals, which currently reside in Battle Creek's Bailey Park. "We've just signed there for two more years," said Johnson. "We expect to get inquiries from other places. We'd be naive not to allow more proposals. But these places probably couldn't host both baseball and softball. We've enjoyed having both at one site and our preference is to keep them together."